More than 150 sixth-graders take part in first STEM Day at SAP Center

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SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 25: Zavier Vance, 11, Jacob Guevara, 12, and Devyn Cervantes, 12, from left, watch as the robotic puck they programmed during a lesson on coding navigates a miniature ice rink at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. STEM Day hosted by the San Jose Sharks offered more than 150 6th grade students the opportunity to learn how science, technology, engineering, and math relate to the sport of ice hockey. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 25: Students participate in lessons during STEM Day at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. STEM Day hosted by the San Jose Sharks offered more than 150 6th grade students the opportunity to learn how science, technology, engineering, and math relate to the sport of ice hockey. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

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SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 25: Aubrey Luna, 11, shoots a puck during a lesson on angles at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. STEM Day hosted by the San Jose Sharks offered more than 150 6th grade students the opportunity to learn how science, technology, engineering, and math relate to the sport of ice hockey. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 25: Students get an up close look at a Zamboni at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. STEM Day hosted by the San Jose Sharks offered more than 150 6th grade students the opportunity to learn how science, technology, engineering, and math relate to the sport of ice hockey. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 25: San Jose Sharks mascot SJ Sharkie shoots a puck as students look on during a lesson on angles at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. STEM Day hosted by the San Jose Sharks offered more than 150 6th grade students the opportunity to learn how science, technology, engineering, and math relate to the sport of ice hockey. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 25: Students take turns shooting a puck during a lesson on angles at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. STEM Day hosted by the San Jose Sharks offered more than 150 6th grade students the opportunity to learn how science, technology, engineering, and math relate to the sport of ice hockey. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 25: Students participate in lessons during STEM Day at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. STEM Day hosted by the San Jose Sharks offered more than 150 6th grade students the opportunity to learn how science, technology, engineering, and math relate to the sport of ice hockey. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

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Once upon a time, the only science and technology that seemed to go into a hockey game was knowing if the ice was cold enough and whether your stick was in one piece. But, as about 150 South Bay sixth-graders learned Tuesday, STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — concepts have a lot to do with putting together a San Jose Sharks game, from knowing shooting angles and measuring puck speeds to managing artificial intelligence and using augmented reality during games.

The students from Gilroy, Oak Grove and Union school districts took part in the first-ever STEM Day at SAP Center, the culminating event of months of science and tech learning the students have been doing at their schools. That meant the chance to strap on “ice cleats” and hit the frozen surface of the Shark Tank, where they could learn about passing angles and see just how the Zamboni works.

On the arena concourse, students also put their coding skills to work, using tablets to create a path for a robotic puck on a mini rink; had relay races to outfit their chaperones in a full complement of hockey gear; and discovered which surfaces would create the smoothest and fastest ride for an ice-skate “Zamboni.” Of course, beloved mascot S.J. Sharkie was there to cheer them on.

They also heard from a trio of women whose careers have more to do with science than slapshots: Sharks Vice President of Business Intelligence Neda Tabatabaie, SAP Product Manager for Conversational AI Gabrielle Zilkha and Sharks Event Presentation Manager Tina DiVillio. Every day, they work behind the scenes, using all the tech tools that go into a game experience including ticketing, ordering food, and creating in-game experiences like the popular Fin Race.

DiVillio told the students that no matter what career they were interested in — whether it’s working for a TV station or hockey team — science and technology learning will probably be part of it. “STEM can be used at any company, anywhere, in any shape for form,” said DiVillio, who said she would probably be writing for TV if she didn’t discover she could create similar experiences in an arena. “We all have vastly different career paths, and we all love what we do.”

SCOUTING COMMUNICATOR: The Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council of the Boy Scouts of America was hoping to have a big name present to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of scouting in the Santa Clara Valley at its annual community leadership breakfast. Well, when it comes to business leaders, you don’t get much bigger than AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson.

Stephenson, who served as national chair of the Boy Scouts of America from 2016 to 2018, sat down Tuesday morning with longtime friend Rich Brenner, a venture capitalist who serves on the local council’s board, for a “fireside chat” in front of more than 400 supporters at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

KING OF COUNTRY: San Jose country music fans probably don’t realize how good they have it with KRTY-FM right here, but the station continues to garner praise from the industry. The latest was last week when General Manager Nate Deaton was awarded General Manager of the Year honors for large markets at the CRS/Country Aircheck Awards, which were presented at the New Faces of Country Music Show in Nashville.

Sal Pizarro has written the Around Town column for The Mercury News since 2005. His column covers the people and events surrounding the cultural scene in Silicon Valley. In addition, he writes Cocktail Chronicles, a feature column on Silicon Valley bars and nightclubs.

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